BLESSED ASKED TO INTERCEDE
BY JOHN THAVIS
THE TOP Church official in Libya has said he is praying to Blessed John Paul II for peace and an end to civilian casualties in the north African country.
Bishop Giovanni Martinelli of Tripoli also questioned the morality of the NATO airstrikes on the residence of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The attack on April 30 killed one of Mr Gaddafi’s sons and three of his grandchildren, but the Libyan leader was unharmed.
“The bombs, as precise as the aim can be, led to civilian victims. Bombs are immoral. I wonder also whether it is moral to kill a head of state. What right do we have to do so?” Bishop Martinelli told Fides, the Vatican news agency.
He said several people had reported to him earlier that day several other bombings which had caused civilian casualties.
“They hit Sirte, Zentani and Misrata. In this last place the fighting continues. I do not know who hit the civilians, but I know that the situation in Misurata is dramatic,” Bishop Martinelli said. He said he hoped to be able to visit wounded civilians in the hospital.